Godzilla, 61-Year-Old Monster Island Resident, Becomes Japanese Citizen
Film star and reigning King of Monsters Godzilla, 61, has finally been recognized as a citizen of Japan, Anime News Network reports.
After living in the country for more than half a century, the atomic immigrant was awarded honorary citizenship by Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward earlier this year. According to ANN, however, Godzilla’s paperwork was only finalized last week.
“Godzilla is a character that is the pride of Japan,” Shinjuku Mayor Kenichi Yoshizumi said of the reptilian sexagenarian at a special ceremony in April.
In addition to becoming a citizen of the ward, Godzilla will reportedly serve as Shinjuku’s tourism ambassador.
According to the monster’s new residency papers, Godzilla’s official duties include “promoting the entertainment of and watching over the Kabuki-cho neighborhood and drawing visitors from around the globe in the form of the Godzilla head built atop the Shinjuku TOHO Building.”
